Saint Claire — Restaurant in New Orleans

I loved my experience at Saint Claire. I visit New Orleans regularly and after my friend suggested we try this new restaurant, I was game. And then the week before I saw it made the NYT Top 50 restaurants. I wondered with all the amazing restaurants I've experienced, how did this restaurant make the top 50? After my experience, it took me several days to really put my finger on it.

I struggled to understand why I enjoyed it so much and then realized it was because the food and the restaurant were wonderful, but weren’t trying to be the center of the experience. They enhanced my experience. The center of my experience was catching up with an old friend. The food was incredible and gave us a shared delight and elements of conversation. The setting is beautiful, partly because it's simple and feels true to its identity. There’s a gravel path as you pull up, and even the entrance sign is still a handwritten sign on a whiteboard. The location has a storied past, but you feel like you've gone back in time into a simple era outside the city (even though you’re still technically within the City of New Orleans). From the couches in the dining room (which feels far more like a living room than a dining room), to the simple tea towel curtains in the bathroom, the atmosphere was cozy. And the waitstaff is wonderful. Our primary server was very attentive, but not hovering. Very friendly, yet professional and not overly enthusiastic. Everything felt like it was there to enhance my cherished meal time with my dear friend. Brunch was excellent. Delicious coffee and iced tea; a wonderful cocktail with honey that was just gently sweetened. We shared biscuits with cultured butter and housemade blueberry confiture; eggplant fritters dusted with powdered sugar; Crêpes Sucre with Langherino cheese and fresh peaches; a Niçoise with confit tuna, tomatoes, olives, and soft egg; a jumbo lump crabcake with radish and cultured butter; and blueberry hand pies with buttermilk ice cream. All of it was delicious! The fritters and the crêpes were standouts—unexpected, layered, and joyful—and the crabcake was delicate in the best way, barely bound so the crab could shine. In an era when restaurants and chefs often chase the spotlight, Saint Claire quietly keeps you in it. That’s exactly what I liked...

What an absolutely divine experience! We arrived for our brunch reservation and were greeted so warmly by Cassi (I think?). She gave us a tour of the space. Honestly, this is right up my alley. The restoration of this space is immaculate. I can't wait to see how the outdoor space evolves. So gorgeous! The dining space is so gorgeous. We loved all the small touches. For the life of me, I can't remember our server's name, but she was incredible. She kept us so happy and fulfilled and was delighted to talk with us about our snowball crawl. She gave us a really terrific rec (Chance In Hell Snoballs), and it ended up being my favorite! The food was perfection. The eggplant fritters were so innovative and tasty. I had the gumbo, which is like the Cajun version that I grew up with, and their version was spot on. Deep, deep flavor, and perfectly seasoned. My friend had the crab cake and holy smokes! All crab - incredible and terrific! For dessert, there were 2 choices, so we tried each- the blackberry hand pies and a chocolate mousse type of dish. Both were jewels in the crown of the pastry chef. Seriously. But the absolute winner was the buttermilk ice cream that came with the pies. It needs to be packaged and sold. I am dreaming of it right now! Saint Claire is a bit off the beaten path, but SO WORTH IT! I really want this spot to succeed and will definitely be back for...

I will be thinking about this experience for quite some time.

Wow. I don’t know how I happened upon the menu for Saint Claire, but when I saw it, I knew it would taste like home.

I didn’t expect to drive up a dark road that revealed this beautiful old home-turned-restaurant. Every single detail was thought of. The welcoming we received, the attention to service from Emily, the love she had for the dishes, the cocktails, the wine…I’m speechless.

I licked the bowl of gnocchi clean. No shame. I almost ordered another, but we were the second to last table and, as a hospitality professional, I’m not doing that to your kitchen! 😂

There aren’t words. Whatever it is you’re doing, stay true to that. I fell in love that night. I’ll be singing your...